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Born in Seattle, Washington, Christie is the son of John Malone and Norma Christie. He was raised in Seattle by his mother Norma Christie.

He began playing street ball at a young age, but it was under the guidance of Mark Morris coach Dave Denny that his game took off.

"Once I came there, and I put that with the street side of basketball, I noticed great strides", he said. "I was learning the basics of basketball -- the things you don't learn on the playground."

Christie played basketball in eighth grade at Cascade Middle School and for Mark Morris High School during his freshman and sophomore years. He had moved to Longview to live with his father, former Mark Morris track star John Malone.[1] He later attended Seattle's Rainier Beach High School. In 1988, his senior year at Beach he led the school's varsity boys' basketball team to their first-ever Washington state championship. He then went on to Pepperdine University (studying sociology[1]), where he gained national exposure.

Christie was selected 17th overall in the 1992 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. However, because of contract difficulties, he never played for the Sonics and was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers later that season, where he was used sparingly. In 1994, the Lakers traded him to the New York Knicks. Again, he was not played often. In 1996, he was again traded mid-season, this time to the Toronto Raptors. He stayed with the Raptors until the conclusion of the season in 2000. By then Christie had picked up his scoring and had been a consistent starter for the Raptors.

At the end of the 2000 season, Christie was traded to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for forward Corliss Williamson. In Sacramento, Christie became the Kings' popular starting shooting guard and developed into one of the league's best defenders, perennially named to the NBA All-Defensive Team; also he was recognized as one of the best 3pt-shooters during this time. Alongside Mike Bibby, Peja Stojaković, Chris Webber and Vlade Divac, the Kings starting five would become known as "The Greatest Show on Court."[2] Christie's defense helped the Kings rise in the NBA ranks, becoming a perennial playoff contender and eventually a championship contender, leading the league in wins in 2001–02.[3]

In 2005, however, he was traded to the Orlando Magic for Cuttino Mobley. Christie left the Kings as second all-time in total steals. He was unhappy about the trade and played only a few games before being sidelined with bone spurs. Following Christie's ankle surgery, the Orlando Magic released him on August 11, 2005 under the new NBA collective bargaining agreement one-time amnesty clause. Christie signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks shortly thereafter.

Due to a slow healing surgically repaired left ankle, Christie was waived by the Dallas Mavericks on November 25, 2005, signaling his impending retirement. He had left the team the week prior to have his surgically repaired left ankle examined by his personal physician.[4] In seven games with the Dallas Mavericks, Christie averaged 3.7 points and 2.0 assists. In January 2007, Christie attempted a comeback when he signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.[5] After the All-Star break, Christie, on his second 10-day contract, decided to part ways with the team.[6]

In 2014, Christie was named to a team assembled by Dennis Rodman as part of his "basketball diplomacy" effort in North Korea with the job of playing an exhibition match against the North Korean Senior National Team to celebrate the birthday of Kim Jong-un.[7]

In 2002, The New York Times[8] published a feature story in which Doug and his wife Jackie spoke about their method to keep Doug from succumbing to a lifestyle of a professional athlete. The couple remarry every year on their wedding anniversary, complete with guests and festivities.